AGRICULTURE AT HOME.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 449, 26 February 1890, Page 2

AGRICULTURE AT HOME.

The falling-off in agricultural production, and the increasing development of pastoral enterprise in the United Kingdom, represent conditions which are of considerable interest to our landed industries. Last year there was a decrease qf 63,512 acres in the area of arable land, and an increase of 117,863 acres of permanent pasture land. While the total arable land was only 21,145,073 acres, of which 6,lßß,so2'acres was sown with clover and grasses under rotation, the permanent pasture land covered,, an area of 26,816,092 acres. The area of corn crops decreased by 148,343 acres. The explanation of the change, which is but a further development of what has been going on for years past, is doubtless the fact that in competition with British produce foreign graiu can be growu and transported to England on relatively more favourable terms than foreign meat. It might be supposed that with the large population and cheap labour of England, the land could be worked to greater advantage in the production of wheat and other cereals than in the growth of stock. On the other hand it might be thought that in America, with its high-priced labour, the land could be worked to greater advantage in the production of meat, to compete with Biitish produce, But the labour conditions which would naturally favour the competition of America and the colonies with the mother country in the matter of meat rather than wheat, are neutralised by the difference in the cost of transport. The freight represents a larger proportion of the valuo of the meat than of the corn ; and until some cheaper means of conveying fresh beef and mutton can be discovered it will probably be found that the tendency in England will he to grow meat and import corn, rather than to import mentandgrow corn. Nevertheless, it is satisfactory from a Colonial point of view, that though there is some increase in the stock production of the United Kingdom, it does n< tkeop pace with the increased demand for meat. Recent re turns show that the United Kingdom requires more foreign meat, as well as foreign corn, every year, England's necessities, whether of grain or of meat, are of course our opportunities, and it will doubtlessi>e the study of colon sts to make the most of their advantages.